Fourth and long

RUSSELL — In baseball, sometimes it takes just one play to change momentum. For Greenup County on Wednesday night, it changed for the better.

Using a nine-run fourth inning and tough pitching from Jarred Moore, Greenup County was able to beat Russell, 13-2, in five innings on Wednesday at Russell High School.

Musketeers coach Greg Logan said after struggling the first three innings, it was good to finally see some aggression in the fourth inning.

"It seemed like the first three innings were long and ugly offensively," Logan said. "I was getting concerned. I was concerned that if we go into the fifth or sixth inning of this thing swinging the bats the way we are, then it's going to be another knock-down drag-out game between Greenup and Russell."

Up 3-2 in the top of the fourth, Greenup County loaded the bases against Russell reliever Alex Jones for sophomore Jacob Cook.

Cook hit a bloop that was caught by Russell shortstop Taylor Brewer. Brewer then threw the ball to first in an attempt to throw out a runner who ventured too far off the base.

The ball went past the first baseman and into the dugout. But instead of allowing one base for the error, the umpires granted the Greenup County runners two bases, which, in turn, gave them two runs.

"The umpire said it was two bases because it goes back to where the ball was when the ball was thrown from the rubber," said Russell coach Mike Martino. "Whetherthey get two or one, after that play, their hitters went up to the plate and just started stroking it."

After the costly mistake, Greenup County (16-12) went on a tear, getting four straight hits, and finishing with seven in the inning. That included a Chase Clary RBI single and a Kyle Grubb two-run double to end the inning.

"In the fourth it felt like I could have come out and hit one," Logan said with a laugh. "I felt like we waited a little bit late. The first three innings we didn't come out as aggressive as we did in the fourth."

Musketeers pitcher Moore picked up the win in a complete game effort, giving up five hits and striking out six. His trouble came in the first.

After an error put Russell's leadoff batter on base, Dylan Howard hit a line drive single to left. Then Brian Conley hit a two-run double to deep center field to get the Red Devils off to a quick start.

Martino said the early runs were good, but the Red Devils (8-15) left runners on in each of the first four innings, and that came back to bite them.

"Early in the game we didn't execute," Martino said. "We broke first. They got a big break on that play in the fourth inning, then they just went up there and got four or five hits in a row. That's the difference in the game right there."

After the first inning, Moore allowed only three hits and walked only one batter. But Logan said he had to give his pitcher a little motivation to push him to the end.

"He was on about 80 pitches and was complaining about some elbow problems there in the fourth inning," Logan said. "So I went out there and told him I have a seventh-grader (Tristan Downing) out there in the bullpen that's ready to come in and take your spot.

"So I think he got the drift there and had a great fifth inning," he added. "He's a competitor, and it's finally clicking for him."

While Moore was impressive on the mound, the senior was just as impressive at the plate. He went 4-for-4 in the game, scoring three times and coming up with two RBIs.

Greenup County is now on a four-game winning streak. Tonight, the Musketeers play against Ashland, the team that beat them last.

"I think (tonight) we need to come out and bring the fourth inning with us when we go to Ashland," Logan said.

Russell hosts the Frank Bloom Invitational starting on Friday with a game against Fairview.

"From this Friday to next Friday we've got seven games," Martino said. "We just hope it doesn't rain and we can play every day. We just want to be as sharp as we can for the playoffs."